4/2/2023

This week we enter Liturgically into the depths of the “Paschal Mystery.”
Just what is the “Paschal Mystery?” The glossary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church defines the Paschal Mystery as God’s plan of salvation which was fulfilled in four events in Christ’s life: 1) his passion (suffering and crucifixion), 2) death, 3) Resurrection, and 4) Ascension. These four events are the culmination of the plan of salvation. They are also, with the exception of the Ascension, the liturgical focus of this coming week. Today we read the passion according to Matthew, Monday – Wednesday we read of the events that led up to his crucifixion in the gospels and three of the four “Suffering Servant” songs from Isaiah in the first readings. The fourth “Suffering Servant” song is read on Good Friday. But in the Triduum, Thursday – Friday – Saturday, the Liturgy emphasizes the ultimate days of Christ’s life: Holy Thursday and the institution of the Eucharist and Holy Orders, Good Friday and the final passion, crucifixion, and death on the cross which lead up to the climax of the Paschal Mystery, the Resurrection on Sunday. Ever since the fall of Adam and Eve, the scriptures have pointed to this person (Christ) and this moment in salvation history. Ever since the first Holy Week, we look back on what happened, trying to understand, to appreciate, to appropriate the lessons and grace from this week and apply them to our lives. This is the holiest week of the year, and we have finally arrived to our commemoration of it.
The word “Paschal” derives from the Jewish word for Passover. We recall how the Hebrews were saved by sacrificing an innocent lamb, by eating it as a sign of communing with one another and with God, and then put the lamb’s blood on their doorposts so that the angel of death would not kill their first born children, “passing over” the houses with the lamb’s blood on the doorpost. It was a miracle by which they were ultimately saved from slavery to the Egyptians. The Passover was a “type” which was fulfilled in our actual salvation brought about by Christ during Holy Week. Only this time, Christ did not save us from physical slavery, but slavery from SIN and DEATH, two curses of the fall. Christ became the lamb in a greater, fuller drama of total salvation wherein Christ died for us to save us from the ultimate slavery of sin and death and bring us into the New Creation where we will live forever. All this God knew from the beginning; all this was foretold in prophesies of old, but no one really saw the plan until it happened and the Holy Spirit revealed it to us. There is no news, no event, nothing that has or will ever happen that compares in greatness to this event that we celebrate this week. And we call it The Paschal Mystery.
Let us enter into The Paschal Mystery we commemorate this week which culminate our Lenten observance, as we prepare for Easter and the Resurrection!

Father Albert, O.S.B.